The Pack
Disclaimer: I hare writing these… I don't own.
Chapter 24
Something was happening… I could just feel it…
But this something was really making it hard to live my life. Ever since that Larxene bitch has been living in our pack, I've been feeling really strange.
I get all of these weird aches and pains, any sort of strong smells really bother me, my eyes sometimes have a hard time focusing and I've been more aware of what's around me.
I'm sitting in my Biology class and the only thing that's keeping me awake is a small bug crawling up the teacher's desk.
Luckily, that kid John covered for me during the field trip thing. This is a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing that I didn't get in trouble, and a bad thing because now I feel obligated to be nice to him.
"Are you okay, man? You seem to be really spacing out." John asked.
I just nodded slowly and sighed. Another thing that was kind of bothering me is that Squall doesn't seem to notice what's going on with me. Usually, whenever anything happens, if I'm the slightest bit unhappy, he's the first to notice and try to cheer me up.
But it's already Thursday, three days in and he hasn't said a thing. It's like he's completely oblivious.
And that concerns me… we're supposed to be connected. If I'm loosing that I think I might do something drastic, like jump off a bridge in a fit of hysterical depression.
'Squall.' I thought quietly as I finally forced myself to look at the blackboard and write notes.
Cloud. Is something wrong? I heard Squall's voice respond.
'No… not at all… I just wanted to see if you could hear me is all.' I thought to him. I was relieved that he could still hear me and come to me if I really needed him.
Mates can always here each other. Hurry up and get out of class so that Zell and I can see you. He's really miserable through the day when you're gone… Squall's voice trailed off and I let out a tiny amused huff.
Zell was perfectly content when I wasn't around. He had Sora, Kairi and Hayner to play with and distract himself with. I knew that when he said that Zell was miserable, he really just meant himself.
'I love you and Zell… and I'm sure you both can handle the twenty minutes left I have of this class.' I thought and smiled.
Cloud… come back soon. Squall's voice was a playful whine.
I giggled and shook my head. 'Yeah, yeah, now let me get back to class.'
"Is there something that amuses you, Mr. Strife?" My biology teacher asked from the front of the room.
I looked up and realized I hadn't really giggled all that quietly. "No, I'm sorry… I was a little distracted. But I'll be sure to pay more attention from now on." I said politely.
"Alright. Now back to what I was saying…" The teacher started.
"Why does it always seem like you are on a different level. You're so far away…" John said.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing, it was a weird thought." John replied.
"I just want this class to be over." I said quietly before I spotted another small bug heading for a spider web in the corner of the room. My eyes started to water as I strained to look at it. I blinked and l looked back to the board.
-The Pack-
I dropped off all of my stuff and said hi to my parents before heading over to the park. I was about twenty minutes from the clearing when I heard someone approaching. I turned to see Larxene hop up onto a fallen log and stare down at me. Why do you keep coming back?
'Larxene.' I thought before continuing my walk towards the clearing.
They don't need you anymore… I can easily do all of the things you do and more… I'm actually one of them.
I ignored her.
She jumped off the log with a growl and cut me off. I will not be ignored. You were just a temporary replacement… now that I'm here they can finally get the real thing.
I sighed. 'What are you talking about Larxene?' I thought to her. I was tired of this and I was starting to get aches in my legs from being on my feet for so long.
Why don't you just back off? Yuu has his real mother now and I can easily win over Squall's heart. Larxene growled.
'What?' I thought giving her a look that said: 'You're bat-shit crazy!'
Are you seriously this dense? Your connection to Squall is weak… surely you know that by now! You're just a pathetic human; he can't connect fully with such an inferior creature. He deserves better than that and if you really loved him you'd step aside. All I have to do is break your bond and I can take my place by his side. Then my child will have the family he deserves. One with a real female… not just some androgynous sack of meat. You can't give them what they deserve… I can so you should just leave. Larxene's lips curled back in a snarl before she walked off.
I took a deep breath. I wouldn't let what that stupid bitch said get to me. I was stronger than that.
I walked and when I finally got to the clearing, I smiled at the four kids that ran towards me.
"Momma! Hayner beat Sora in a match! I thought for sure he was going to lose just like everyone else did, but he won!" Zell said and jumped up and down in excitement.
"Wow! Are you okay with that Sora?" I asked.
"Yeah… Zell beat Hayner and I beat him so it's a three-way tie for who's the best." Sora said and his tail wagged happily.
"Zell! Why didn't you tell me you beat Hayner? You should be really happy for yourself!" I said and scooped him up before giving him kisses.
"We want kisses too!" Kairi and Sora said with their ears twitching excitedly.
I sat on the ground. "Okay, kisses for my favorite kids in the pack!" I said and laughed when they all jumped me and showered me in kisses. I kissed the three of them of the forehead and looked around to see Hayner sitting next to me awkwardly.
"Hey, do you want some kisses too? The invitation was for the four of you." I said with a smile.
"My mom says I need to keep away from you." He said quietly, looking down.
I frowned. "Hayner if she wants me away from you then she needs to take it up with me. While you are here, you are part of the pack and I love everyone in the pack." I said and pulled him into the big hug. I kissed him forehead too and congratulated him for his win against Sora. I smiled when his ears fluttered happily.
"Alright, you guys go play. Squall is probably waiting for me to go see him." I said and patted their heads.
I stood and smiled when my midnight blue wolf came trotting towards me. Cloud. His voice echoed in my head as he nuzzled his face in my hand before liking it. I kneeled before wrapping my arms around him. I didn't realize how terrible I was feeling until I hugged him and felt all the negativity peel away.
There was a low rumbling noise in his throat and I let out a small whine in response. He loved me and I loved him in return… and even if my connection with him was weaker due to my condition, it was still a force to be reckoned with.
Squall licked my neck before turning into a human and wrapping his arms around me. "You smell like you had a good day." He said and I frowned… My day wasn't that great… in fact, with Larxene trying to get under my skin it was pretty shitty.
What was going on?
"I did." I lied.
Squall yipped and kissed my nose. "I'm glad." He replied.
Something was very wrong… he always knows when I'm lying. Why wasn't he catching on to me? Couldn't he tell he was upsetting me?
Was our connection not what I thought it was… or was it wearing off?
Can you hear this?
"Cloud?" Squall frowned and pressed his forehead to mine, "Are you alright?" he asked.
'I'm fine.' I thought to him. Squall's frown deepened and he pressed closer to me.
Talk to me. I heard his voice.
'I told you, I'm fine.' I thought.
Cloud? He couldn't hear me.
"Oh god! I forgot I have a test tomorrow! I need to study, I gotta go! Love you guys, I'll see you tomorrow." I said and stood.
"Come back soon…" Squall said with a look of concern.
I ran from the clearing but slowed due to the aches I was feeling. I took a sharp breath and my eyes started to water as they moved in and out of focus. There was a sudden influx of noise. I could hear the rustling of leaves and the call of birds, and odd sounds that I've never heard before.
"Cloud are you alright?" I heard Zack and I looked up blearily to see him and Xigbar approach.
"No…" I said honestly and Xigbar pulled me into a hug. "I don't know what's happening…" I said.
"I wish we knew." Zack whimpered.
'Can you hear my thoughts?' I asked.
Loud and clear. They replied and I whimpered inwardly.
'He c-couldn't hear me. I don't think he can feel me ei-ei-either…' I thought and took a breath trying to keep it together. I stood up and moved to take a step only to see nothing but the fibers of my shoe, I blinked as I started to fall over, I felt someone catch me and my eyes seemed to zoom back out into full view.
"I don't like this Xiggy… something is definitely wrong. Kitten can't even walk!" Zack whimpered in concern for me.
"Take him to his house Zack, tuck your ears under your hat. I'm going to talk to Xemnas, maybe he can tell us something. I heard him run back towards the clearing.
Zack sat me down and I closed my eyes for a second before looking to see him fixing his ears under his hat and looking at me. "Do you think your parents will let me stay with you?" Zack asked.
'I don't know.' I thought and he helped me up before we set off towards my house.
-The Pack-
Zack let go of me and I stood and opened my front door. I took a second to compose myself before walking in. "Mom? Dad?" I called.
"Hey honey, I didn't expect you to be back… hello! Are you a friend of Cloud's? It's nice to meet you." My mother said and shook Zack's hand.
"Nice to meet you too! I'm Zack, Cloud met me though Squall. Cloud said he was feeling a little under the weather so I decided I would walk him home. Do you mind if I stay a while?" Zack asked and I smiled at his puppy-dog eyes.
"Of course. Any friend of Cloud's is welcome. Are you okay, Cloud? Do you need some medicine?" My mother asked.
I shook my head. "I'm sure I can handle it without meds. I just need to lay down." I said and started to move towards my bedroom. Zack cleverly slipped his arm around mine to catch my stumble and smiled. "Why don't you show me where your room is? I bet you there's not a thing littering the floor!" Zack giggled.
I smiled at him and he walked me down the hall until I pointed to my door. He opened it and closed it before laying me down on the bed.
"So what exactly is happening to you?" Zack asked.
"My body aches… smells I used to tolerate are completely unbearable to smell… my eyes zoom in and out of focus… sometimes I hear stuff… just noises I've never heard before… I don't even know what they are… it's really trippy stuff that is freaking me the fuck out… and Squall isn't noticing it! He's completely oblivious! I lied to him… and he just accepted it… I don't know what happening but I want my connection to my mate back. It hurts… i-i-it hu-hurts so bad." I finally let my tears go and whined out my sorrow.
There was a knock on my window and I looked to see Xigbar waiting to be let in.
"Xigbar! This must be serious if he's sending you to us. Squall and I are the only one's allowed outside." Zack said as he opened the window.
Xigbar looked solemn as he moved through the window. He sat next to me on the bed and reverted to wolf form. I frowned…
Cloud… none of us really know what's going on… this has never happened before… but the only thing Xemnas could even guess to be happening is that… well, because of your condition… your bond with Squall is becoming unstable and it's causing your body to act strangely and Squall's lack of a response to your calls. He thinks… Xigbar stopped and let out the smallest whine.
'What does he think?' I thought to him… my eyes watering again.
He thinks that once your bond has finally broken completely, things will revert back to the way they were before your mating… Zack finished for Xigbar and tears came to his eyes.
I looked at them… "What?" I asked, completely lost.
Xemnas thinks nature is denying your union. Xigbar's voice came back.
Tears started to roll down my eyes. "Wh-what?" I said again, praying that I had heard wrong.
We all… even Xemnas himself, hope that he's wrong. Zack's voice said before I heard a whimper escape.
I felt like I couldn't breath… I felt like I couldn't move… this had to be wrong…
Zack wrapped his arms around me and Xigbar curled his body towards me. I let out a shuddering breath before I buried my face into Zack's chest and cried.
Hysterically… they were muffled by Zack's shirt but the wolves holding me could hear the raw agony in them. My body was jerking in despair. How could nature decide something like this? I need him… if I can't be with him than I might as well be dead.
Don't think that! Zack let out a yelp before he began to sob as well. "Don't ever think that again!" he cried and held onto me tightly.
Think about the people that need you Cloud… the whole pack needs you. Think about us… think about Riku and Xemnas… think about the kids! They won't survive without you. Xigbar reasoned thought his whimpers.
I thought about them… and I would live for them… but they couldn't erase how cold and alone I feel… The warmth inside… the one that told me Squall was always there was gone…
"Why! Oh God why?" I cried before another onset of sobs and whines took over me again. This had to be true… what else could explain it. Squall's absence was proof…
Why else wouldn't he be here?
A/N: I feel like an asshole… it's been like two months since my last update and I hand you a depressing chapter… but don't worry, I will make time to update this sooner. Please review! Don't leave, this is a happy story, I promise!